COWELL: Homage to Iran / Piano Pieces / Set of Five / Six Casual Developments / Two Songs

Abendlied for bassoon and piano

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GUSTAV MAHLER

Select Complete Single Disc for

Das Lied von der Erde

1

I. Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde

8:27

2

II. Der Einsame im Herbst

9:31

3

III. Von der Jugend

3:16

4

IV. Von der Schönheit

6:57

5

V. Der Trunkene im Frühling

4:25

6

VI. Der Abschied

30:19

Stuart Skelton Tenor

Thomas Hampson Baritone

Michael Tilson Thomas

Mahler was a great symphonist and a great songwriter. In his “song-symphony” Das Lied von der Erde (“The Song of the Earth”), these two strands of his genius are intertwined. Here Mahler summons all his orchestral and vocal imagination, taking us to the heart of ancient Chinese poems that praise life’s joys and lament life’s brevity. Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the San Francisco Symphony, with tenor Stuart Skelton and world-renowned baritone Thomas Hampson.

“…Thomas and the orchestra have rarely sounded so assured or dynamic in their command of Mahler’s late style.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“…dazzling… Hampson ’s utter mastery of music and text made this performance one to cherish.”

San Jose Mercury News

*****

Not perfect, and I still give it five stars. The singers are very good: Hampson is brilliant, Skelton does his best, though he is more powerful in the quieter passages than needed. It is still a five-star performance, because I feel the need to listen to it again and again despite its flaws, and this is the sigh of greatness.